How to Remove Humps From a Gravel Driveway

by Denise Brown

A gravel drive occasionally needs leveling out.

A gravel driveway is not a solid surface, so over time, high and low spots develop along its length. A slight hump, or crown, along the length of the driveway is desirable to allow for drainage. Gravel driveway humps are easy to repair, but they do require some heavy lifting. If you perform regular gravel driveway maintenance, the humps won’t be too noticeable. When you allow them to go untended, the humps take heavier equipment to repair. If you don’t have a lawn tractor with a scraper blade, you may need to rent one.

1

Walk the driveway’s length to note where the high and low spots are. You can confirm this by watching where puddles form in the gravel the next time it rains. If there’s a puddle, chances are good there’s a hump nearby.

2

Move rock from the high spot into the low spot with a shovel. If you have several high spots, lightly scrape the surface of the gravel driveway with the scraper blade on your lawn tractor.

3

Drive slowly over the smoothed area with your vehicle to help pack the rock into position. Alternatively, pass a weighted lawn roller over the area to pack down the rock.

Things You Will Need

Shovel

Lawn tractor with scraper blade attachment

Weighted lawn roller

Tip

Do not park your car in the same spot every time. The weight of the car displaces the gravel, causing humps to form.

Try to drive a different path on the gravel each time you use the driveway. This keeps the rocks evenly packed and helps prevent the formation of humps.

Drive slowly on the gravel driveway. If you drive too fast, the wheels throw rocks up in piles. Driving too fast can also damage the car.

A gravel driveway should have at least three layers of rocks, with the smaller ones on top. If you see rocks larger than 1 1/2 to 2 inches, it’s time to add a 3- to 4-inch layer of 3/4-inch crushed gravel on top of the existing driveway surface. Smooth the surface with a scraper blade and pack the rock into position.

About the Author

Denise Brown is an education professional who wanted to try something different. Two years and more than 500 articles later, she's enjoying her freelance writing experience for online resources such as Work.com and other online information sites. Brown holds a master's degree in history education from Truman State University.

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